I loved this book as much as the first in the Moments series. I was hooked from the first page and stayed up way too late to finish. This is about Alex, cousin to Ryan from the first book. As with the previous book Right Now deals with the same dark and difficult issues. I’m starting to get spoiled by the great writing and captivating stories from this author. Alex was introduced in the first book, but we get to know who he really is this time around. Alex has spent his life making sure Ryan was alright, as alright as he’d ever be, since the incident when he was six. Ever since Ryan got his life on track Alex has been lost. His façade of the smiling, laughing, and everything is fine is starting to crack; even if no one really notices. He uses sex with multiple forgettable (to him) women to forget and cope with the devastation his father has caused. It’s the fortune from a fortune cookie that causes him to admit he doesn’t like the way his life is headed and results in his impulsive trip to the tattoo parlor. This where he meets Zoe, who turns out to be the one woman he can’t forget. Zoe knows who Alex is and doesn’t fawn all over him or give in as all the other women in his life has done. She gives him as good as he’s ever given. Loved the way she played him the first time. Zoe has her issues with her family as well, but she seems to have come to terms with it in a more healthy way. Not that they don’t still hurt her, or that her mother isn’t still distant and disapproving. Zoe takes the journey from rock bottom and self-destruction toward a healthy and productive life with Alex. She gets hurt by Alex more than once and lets him know that she won’t but up with his behavior any longer. Its Zoe’s strength to let him go that pushes Alex to face some serious demons and tell her the truth. I felt for Zoe and got just as mad at Alex, but knowing what she didn’t was frustrating at times. I was so happy when Alex came clean with her and loved the way they “reconnected” after the revelation. When Alex allows himself he can be so sweet and loving. Mostly focusing on Alex and Zoe’s story we get to see more of Ryan and Lili. Ryan and Alex’s therapist is also introduced and she is a great addition to the story. We get to see that help is needed to deal with these issues, but the therapist is loving, tough, funny, and effective. I wish I’d had a therapist like her when I was dealing with these issues. I also got to meet Thor, a friend and coworker of Zoe. I really got to like him and can’t wait for his story. That right there’s going to be a third book in the series and it’s about Thor! Yes, this is a story dealing with very serious and difficult subjects and it was difficult to read at times, but there was also some laugh out loud moments. There’s a wonderful balance of humor, angst, and romance. I applaud the way Marie Hall dealt with the issues! They were handled realistically with no sugar coating. She shows how many people are affected by the betrayal of Alex’s father and how everyone deals with it differently. The characters are very believable. They aren’t perfect and make mistakes, some over and over again until they finally learn from them. Do I recommend this series? Yes! Be warned to tread carefully if certain things are triggers for you, this is a difficult but rewarding read. I have to say that you must read the first book A Moment before this story.(I was lucky enough to get a copy from author/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)Darker Passions
